US3820285A - Blocking device for locking sliding closures - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking bar for sliding closures having a main portion and a shorter hinged portion is described. Mounted on the main portion are two spring-loaded retractable sliding bolts, which mate with pre-drilled holes in the base of one closure frame member. The locking bar is inserted in the track of the other closure member with the sliding bolts engaging the holes, so as to prevent either closure from being opened from the outside by an intruder. However, the relatively short hinged member may be swung to an upright position by means of a recessed finger pull, thus permitting one sliding closure member to be cracked for ventilation while at the same time preventing ingress through the closure.

Description

United States Patent Shiffler et al.

[ June 28, 1974 BLOCKING DEVICE FOR LOCKING SLIDING CLOSURES [76] Inventors: George M. Shiffler; H. H. Baskin,

.lr., both of 1275 Cleveland St., Clearwater, Fla. 33515 [22] Filed: Dec. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 311,106

[52] U.S. Cl. 49/450, 292/262 [5]] Int. Cl E05d 13/06 [58] Field of Search 49/449, 450; 292/262, 263

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,554,592 7/l968 Katz 49/449 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,067,938 5/l967 Great Britain 49/450 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Berman, Bishoff & Platt ABSTRACT A locking bar for sliding closures having a main portion and a shorter hinged portion is described. Mounted on the main portion are two spring-loaded retractable sliding bolts, which mate with pre-drilled holes in the base of one closure frame member. The locking bar is inserted in the track of the other closure member with the sliding bolts engaging the holes, so as to prevent either closure from being opened from the outside by an intruder. However, the relatively short hinged member may be swung to an upright position by means of a recessed finger pull, thus permitting one sliding closure member to be cracked for ventilation while at the same time preventing ingress through the closure.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing'Figures l BLOCKING DEVICE FOR LOCKING SLIDING CLOSURES This invention relates generally to blocking apparatus for locking sliding doors and/or windows, and more particularly relates to such a blocking device which permits a sliding closure to be partially opened, while at the same time effectively preventing unauthorized entry through the closure.

In common use in many homes are doors, windows and other closures which have either one slidably mounted panel and a fixed panel or two slidably mounted panels, either or both of which may be slid from the closed position to open the closure. While such closures are of great esthetic value in providing a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, they are notoriously easy prey for the enterprising burglar. It has become a particular problem in recent years when the number of burglaries committed in suburban areas containing homes which normally employ such sliding closures, has increased to alarming proportions.

The principal problem with sliding glass closures of the type described above, has, of course, been the fact that they are normally equipped with woefully inadequate locking devices. Typically, the lock provided with such closures constitutes a piece of metal associated with a door handle mechanism and which is positioned in a slot or crevice located in the frame immediately adjacent the sliding glass door when the door is in a fully closed and locked position. Such locks may be easily opened, as is well known, by burglars or other persons desiring unauthorized access to the dwelling,

by using a screw driver or similar object to pry the lock into an open position.

Various prior art solutions to the above-described problem have been tried, but all have suffered from one or more serious disadvantages. For example, the locking bar shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,920 to Cohen et al, is extremely unsightly, since it extends directly across the window pane. The patent to Silk, U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,293, suffers from a similar esthetic disadvantage since when in use, it is in plain sight and rather ungainly in appearance. Moreover, the blocking element in the aforesaid patent to Silk is limited in its application to single sliding panels which slide on the inside of the fixed panel and is, therefore, of limited value. A particularly significant disadvantage of the locking devices disclosed in the aforesaid United States patents, which is also found in another locking element shown in the U.S. Pat. to Mohun, No. 3,622,190, is their inability to provide for ventilation without completely removing the blocking element from its operative position. Thus, if it were desired to sleep in a room having a sliding closure, the prior art devices would either require the closure to be completely closed, with the attendant lack of adequate ventilation or the locking device to be completely removed with a resulting complete loss of the security ostensibly ofiered by such devices.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a locking device for sliding closures of the single or double type which overcomes the above-described disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for sliding closures of the single or double-type which allows the closure to be partially opened, while at the same time affording the occupant of the dwelling security against unwanted intrusion from the outside.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for sliding closures of the single or double-type, which prevents such a closure from being forcibly opened from the outside without completely smashing the door or window.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for sliding closures of the single or double type, which is easily installed, readily removable from the inside of the dwelling and which is unobtrusive when in use.

Briefly, the locking device of the present invention comprises a blocking bar which seats in the track of the sliding closure. The bar comprises a longer portion hinged to a shorter portion which may be lifted from the track when it is desired to partially open the closure for ventilation purposes. The longer portion of the bar is provided with two spring-loaded retractable sliding bolts, which mate with pre-drilled holes in the base of the outside closure frame member.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily appreciated from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the locking device of the present invention installed in a sliding closure assembly which is partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the locking device of the present invention;

FIG.- 4 is a front elevational view of the locking device of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the locking device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, it can be seen that the locking device of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 15, is designed by virtue of its two legs 26 to fit into the inside track 14 on which the right hand sliding closure rides. As shown in FIG. 1, the sliding door or window arrangement comprises a right-hand panel, as viewed in FIG. I, consisting of glass pane l3 enclosed within metal frame member 16 and a left-hand panel consisting of glass pane I0 enclosed within metal frame 11. As illustrated in FIGS. I and 2, both the left-hand and right-hand panels are slidable, frame 11 riding on track 12 and frame 16 riding on track 14, but it should be understood that the present invention is equally applicable to an arrangement wherein either one of the panels is, slidable and the other fixed.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the locking device of the present invention comprises a main long bar portion 22 and a shorter bar portion 24, interconnected by hinge 20, so that portion 24 may be swung upwardly as shown in the dotted line position in FIG. 4. Recessed finger pull ring 21 is provided in portion 24 to permit that portion to be pivoted about hinge 20.

Provided in main bar portion 22 are sliding bolts 18, shown in detail in FIG. 2, which are spring-biased to the fully extended position by means of springs 19. Shafts 27, which ride in slots 25 in the upper surface of main bar portion 22, connectbolts 18 with knobs 17, which enable the bolts to be retracted against the pressure of springs 19.

When installing locking device in track 12, as shown in FIG. 1, its overall length must be trimmed to make it equal to the width of the left-hand panel, so that when it is in place on track 12, the right-hand panel cannot be moved. Holes 23 are then drilled in the lower horizontal portion of frame 1 1, of the proper size to receive sliding bolts 18, as shown in FIG. 2. Locking device 15 may then be placed on track 12 with bolts 18 retracted by means of knobs l7, and after the locking device is in place, knobs 17 are released and bolts 18 allowed to enter holes 23.

As can be seen, with locking device 15 securely in place, the right-hand panel will be incapable of movement. If the left-hand panel is also a sliding closure, as shown in FIG. 2, it too will be held against movement by virtue of the locking action of bolts 18. When it is desired to open either of the closures for ventilation, pull ring 21 is grasped and shorter portion 24 of the locking device is raised, as shown in FIG. 4. Now, either the right-hand or the left-hand panel may be moved a predetermined distance until frame 16 abuts against main bar portion 22. However, as will be readily observed, the locking device 15, with portion 24 in its raised position, still performs its security function and its intruder, seeking ingress from the outside, will find it virtually impossible to remove the locking device from track 12 and gain entry to the dwelling.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, bolts 18 may be eliminated when the invention is utilized with a single sliding panel. In addition, it should be noted that the present invention is equally adaptable to sliding windows and sliding doors. Therefore, it is intended that the scope of tance, and transversely extensible means movably mounted in said stationary portion and being lockingly engageable with the other closure member for retaining said blocking bar in said track.

2. The locking device set forth in claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises at least one transverse bolt.

3. The locking device set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least one bolt is slidably mounted in said stationary portion for engaging corresponding recess means in said other closure member.

4. The locking device set forth in claim 3, wherein said retaining means comprises two spring-loaded transverse bolts slidably mounted in said stationary portion, and further includes upwardly projecting finger gripping means for retracting said bolts from said recess means.

I 5. The locking device set forth in claim 4, wherein said pivotable portion is hinged to said stationary portion.

6. The locking device set forth in claim 5, further including a gripping member mounted on said pivotable

Claims (6)

1. A locking device for a pair of adjacent closure members having at least one closure member slidable on a track parallel to the other closure member comprising a blocking bar shaped for insertion in said track, said blocking bar comprising a relatively long stationary portion and a relatively short pivotable portion which may be raised from said track to permit said slidable closure member to be moved a predetermined distance, and transversely extensible means movably mounted in said stationary portion and being lockingly engageable with the other closure member for retaining said blocking bar in said track.

2. The locking device set forth in claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises at least one transverse bolt.

3. The locking device set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least one bolt is slidably mounted in said stationary portion for engaging corresponding recess means in said other closure member.

4. The locking device set forth in claim 3, wherein said retaining means comprises two spring-loaded transverse bolts slidably mounted in said stationary portion, and further includes upwardly projecting finger gripping means for retracting said bolts from said recess means.

5. The locking device set forth in claim 4, wherein said pivotable portion is hinged to said stationary portion.

6. The locking device set forth in claim 5, further including a gripping member mounted on said pivotable portion for raising it from said track.

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